Philippine Project to Use Blockchain to Clean Up Dirty River

The Philippines’ Pasig River Rehabilitation Council (PRRC) is collaborating with a group of local and South African environmentalists and entrepreneurs to use blockchain to save the 27-kilometer long Pasig River running through capital Manila. The idea is to eventually apply the know-how gained to clean the world’s rivers and seas.

In an interview with Cryptovest, CypherOdin and BOTcoin CEO Mariano Jose Diaz Villafuerte IV said the partners selected Pasig River as their first proof-of-concept (PoC) because it is one of the most heavily polluted rivers in the Philippines.

“We first came up with the idea of showcasing how blockchain technology can solve real-world problems and clean up the environment,” Villafuerte said.

Pasig River. Image: British Council

The company plans to install Internet of Things (IoT) devices on the river and underwater (IOUT) to monitor water quality, tide levels, and other relevant data points to track their progress in real time. The information collected will help create solutions to the plastic and garbage problem plaguing the river.

For even more utility, CypherOdin will be using drones to map the plastic on a microscopic level.

“We will collect all the data we gather from these IoT and process them so we will have comprehensive information on where the plastics and garbage are coming from, how they are moving, among others. This would allow us to analyze and come up with recommendations on how to best clean up the rivers of this debris,” Villafuerte explained.

Pasig River. Image: Cryptovest.com

As part of its holistic approach, the group plans on launching a massive information campaign, specifically targeting communities along the riverbanks and near the river. People will be reminded about the importance of proper garbage disposal and environmental protection.

The communities will be incentivized with BOTcoin cryptocurrency for a certain amount of garbage collected on the river and for not throwing plastics in it.

“This would encourage the community also to respect the river because they will be earning something from it,” Villafuerte added.